You Barn Finders were very kind when I wrote up my last VW camper. And very expert, as when someone pointed out that the tip-out roof was very likely not original. So when I saw this 1967 Bus/Vanagon, I just had to grab the assignment, knowing you would shepherd me through the pitfalls. Well, that was half my logic. The other part: this thing looks just plain crazy, which in no way explains the fact that, while it sits in Juniper, Florida, it has been bid here on eBay past ten thousand bucks. That’s a lot of bread.
I repeat—ten grand. Is this real? That’s five figures, and I just can’t see how this beater is worth that. I’m sure the seller’s claims are sincere. He very likely is the VW mechanic he claims to be. I’m sure that the Bus is rust-free (unlike the prior one I profiled). But I wonder if you’re ever going to get it out of the person’s yard that it’s in. It looks less parked than moored, like furniture that you know is there but don’t even see anymore, so long has it sat in the same place. The additional seller’s note on eBay confirms this without saying so directly, warning that a flatbed will be needed and that the van last ran of necessity when a neighbor replaced a fence. This might or might not have been when Nixon was president.
And when you do get it moved, will you camp in it, as the seller says his family did many times? Are kids these days willing to spend their weekends in ratty old VWs, as long as there’s good WiFi at the campground? And if so, are you going to be forced to paint this thing to erase what looks like “Wood Tock” lettering on the side so your children aren’t embarrassed? That’s probably the least of the investment it will demand, though we don’t really know, since the images of the interior mostly don’t indicate how much restoration—or even how much scrubbing—might be required.
Maybe it’s true that the 1967 model year was a watershed. The seller here certainly makes an impassioned plea for this. If so, then the culty-VW world should respond, and bolster the seller’s IRA by putting up a big number in this auction. But what is more likely to happen is that the bidding stalls on this one as people realize that “Woodstock” lettering doesn’t mean you’re actually a Dead Head and that this van needs serious attention before it hits the road to its next rock festival.
“Jerry’s dead man….get over it”.
Jerry who? You know, pal, a whole generation may grow up not knowing who we’re talking about. It’s no surprise that I’M a Deadhead, but wouldn’t be seen in a VW bus, under ANY circumstances. I guess you could say, “Give me five, I’m still alive, ain’t no luck, I learned to duck”,,I got dem US Blues,,
Writer missed the fact that the “T” in Woodstock is a mushroom. That should bring back memories if you’re old enough. The interior pieces look Westfailia as the ice box behind the passenger seat goes along with the year built. They moved it to the left side in the later versions. Also, “Vanagon” didn’t emerge until the early ’80s.
Especially since ‘shrooms are making a comeback.
I do believe that ’67 was definitely a watershed year for VWs. I just never was exposed to one of these early campers to experience how much fun they were.
You are tripping Vanagons didn’t come out till 80.
Jupiter Florida is on the Atlantic ocean. Believe me when I say that its not rust free. Now if it came from the southwest like Arizona, SoCal, New Mexico or Texas I would say in almost certainty that is closer to rust free.
…because SoCal isn’t close to an ocean? Plenty of rust on the west coast, believe me.
If it was used as a camper it will have rust even if it was in AZ, CA, NM, or TX. In those place they rust from the inside out. Remember waking up in a tent and getting rained on when you move? Same with a camper van. Your breath gets the inside all wet behind the paneling. Worse for rust in Vanagons than vans.
These are great for two person camping at slow speed. Pull the interior out and go to town. As for being a VW mechanic that can be anybody who has a jack and kitchen table.
The “jack and kitchen table” crowd made me a ton of money over the years. “How hard can it be? It’s a big lawn mower engine!?!” Ah..yeah..#1 the lawn mower engine requires more precision work than most people care to do and the VW, being on the ragged edge of “what can we leave off and still have it function?” engineering, requires care and attention to detail that very few people can muster.
Steve, you hit that right. When someone claims in an ad that they are a VW mechanic red flags go up. Anyone can work on them. Not all understand them.
LOL dad 65-73 -taught me how to tune up a vw engine, so yea, you are correct, cause I am NOT a VW mechanic. hahaha
Writing the word “Woodstock” on the side of a Volkswagen van like that comes across as a cringey attempt to play “hippy”- did they wear a headband and tie-dyes when they drove it? Name their dog Hendrix? I had an acquaintance in the 80’s who had a similar dream after college but when he embarked on his big hippy journey the van overheated and died before they got out of the state so he ended up doing his hippy tour in his parents Taurus instead.
Looks like you’re wrong. Current bid: $10,300.00 These slope nose busses are HOT right now.
If I had somewhere to keep it I’d buy it at that price! My second vehicle back in the day was 1967 bus, and it’s the best year! Last year of the split windshield and the first year for 12 volt. I could tell you stories… I wish I had this writing assignment.
As someone who actually worked in Woodstock as a VW mechanic (which is NOT the place the festival happened BTW) I did see my share of buses. The reason the “hippies” drove them is that they were cheap transportation. Where they might have been sporting some artwork here and there (mostly to cover rust and dents) nobody painted them.up like this one. They didn’t have the time or the money to do that. They were almost community property and Dale was going to blow up the engine, Sarah was going to tip it over AGAIN and between shoveling engine into them (sourced from crashed or rusted bugs) and putting them back on their wheels, there was little point in doing anything special with them. Plywood bed “frame” in the back and some curtains and you were good to go. People now are paying stupid money to “re-live” an experience that really never happened. Yes..I HAVE seen some “period correct” Dead Head paint jobs but that was not the rule. Most were plain jane with MAYBE some curtains and a painted on peace symble to replace tbe rusted or missing VW emblem. Cheap transportation they ain’t..
Geez I’m not an expert but what pictures are you looking at ?you have to define rust free for me ; I see tons of surface rust and some looks like it’s ate right through not to be critical Of your write up, let’s keep it real
Many moons ago , i passed a group of vw busses going uphill in canada
I was driving a 30 foot holiday rambler while pulling a firefly on all fours
I blasted them a few times with my air horns , like they were crawling at 10 mph !
Anyway , at a lookoutpoint where we had stopped , the gang slowly comes in
They taught i was a mad man for passing them and i said they were dangerous for being too slow
We did end up having a good laugh and i takes a special kind of person to want to snail everywhere …
SOLD for $12,400.